A website containing artistic photographs taken by Bill Henson and classified PG (Parental Guidance Recommended) by the Australian Classification Board (ACB) was included on the ACMA blacklist by mistake says Senator Stephen Conroy.
During his appearance on Q&A Senator Conroy described the mistake as a “technical error” and hinted that if mandatory filtering is introduced, the ACB may be tasked with administrating Australia’s website blacklist.
Senator Conroy said he has ordered ACMA to audit the list.
9 comments
Arved von Brasch says:
Mar 26, 2009
He also continued with the ‘Refused Classification equals illegal’ meme.
Although, I have to say he handled himself very well. Kept a sense of humour, and had an appearance of sensibility (even if there were a few lies).
He’s going to be hard to defeat, but I note that he seemed to be strongly keeping a failed trial as a backdoor to escape.
James says:
Mar 26, 2009
That /b/tard halfway through certainly didn’t help our cause. I mean… A hand drawn V mask? Seriously WTF.
In the end unfortunately Conroy came across as sensible and realistic, and no-one asked the critical questions.
Namely, Why is completely legal content on the blacklist? (Such as poker sites).
Eddie says:
Mar 26, 2009
“Technical error” my butt, Conroy.
Eddie says:
Mar 26, 2009
Also, Conroy should have blamed the Russian mob for the Henson blacklisting. :p
lauredhel says:
Mar 26, 2009
Conroy’s “sense of humour” seemed to consist largely of laughing mockingly every time anyone talked about freedoms. I don’t think he did himself any favours with thinking folk.
When the only person on your side is Andrew Bolt, it should be fairly obvious that you’re doing it wrong.
Ilaeria says:
Mar 27, 2009
I just loved it how the audience laughed when he said it was a technical error
I thought Conroy looked even more vampiric than normal, and did not address things he said he would (like the abortion site). The questions asked gave him wriggle-room and he used it all up. He managed to worm out of a lot of things. And his going on about the dentist site being hacked annoyed me – so it was hacked, you tell them and let them fix it, you don’t blacklist it and then ignore the problem. But that really demonstrates what the filter will do – something shows up someone at ACMA doesn’t like, bam, it’s on the list, and it’s swept under the carpet. Clearly there is no follow-up when there should be.
Sean the Blogonaut says:
Mar 27, 2009
So did he admit that ACMA blocked something by mistake on a list that he said actually wasn’t the ACMA list? Am I missing something?
James Madley says:
Mar 27, 2009
I looked over the list yesterday to see what stupid things they think need to be blocked.
When I ran across the Henson pics I could only scratch my head and wonder what drugs they’re on.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more I reckon Conroy is doing this so that the traffic to his favourite websites is lessoned. If that’s the case then he really doesn’t know how the internet works.
Michael Smith says:
Mar 27, 2009
Yeah right a technical fault. Just happens that a “technical fault” was responsible for happening to block such a politically sensitive site, yeah right I believe that- it was all an innocent mistake!